Chapter 16: The Initiation Ceremony

The Dadan family was an enigma. Ace's eyes narrowed as he watched Luffy, who was reluctantly led by Garp.It was evident that Luffy, in his younger days, was far from dependable.

"Luffy, this is Ace, he's your brother. Look out for each other." Garp declared, gesturing towards Ace.

He promised to visit them during his next leave,then unceremoniously dropped Luffy to the ground and vanished into the forest's depths.

"You're Ace! I'm Luffy. Let's be friends," Luffy called out to Ace, who was perched in a tree, once Garp was out of sight. His voice carried the innocent enthusiasm that was so quintessentially Luffy.

"Friends? You want to be my friend?" Ace jumped down from the tree, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. His tone was teasing, yet there was a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

"Oh!" Luffy exclaimed, his excitement palpable.

Luffy had developed a strong distaste for bandits due to the incident involving Red Hair Shanks. Apart from the bandits, Ace was the only other person around.

For Luffy, loneliness was a fate worse than death, so he was eager to befriend Ace.

"Then, come with me," Ace said, glancing at Luffy before leaping towards the dense forest.

"Ace! Wait for me!" Luffy called out, chasing after him, his straw hat bobbing in his wake.

....

After a long journey through the forest, Ace finally stopped at a secluded spot. "Ace! Are you here?" A boy with sun-kissed hair and a gap-toothed smile emerged from the undergrowth. "Sabo," Ace greeted him with a smile.

"Look, Ace! We've saved so much money. We're one step closer to setting sail," Sabo said, opening several treasure chests filled with various treasures and Beli. His voice was filled with the dreamy optimism .

These riches were the fruits of Ace and Sabo's ventures in the Grey Terminal. Given Ace's burgeoning prowess, the Kingdom of Goa posed little obstacle, enabling a swift accumulation of wealth. Nevertheless, the Grey Terminal's destitution meant that only about 10 million Beli had been amassed.

For now, Ace's interest in treasure was secondary; his sights were set on securing a substantial sum from a noble before embarking on their maritime quest fo his goal was a certain future navigator.

While Sabo was enthusiastically discussing his life after setting sail, a staggering figure emerged from the woods. He collapsed on the ground, exhausted. "Who are you?!" Sabo exclaimed, quickly closing all the treasure chests. His tone was defensive, a stark contrast to his usual carefree demeanor.

"I-I'm Luffy! Who are you?" Luffy asked, catching his breath. "My name is Sa…Who wants to tell you who I am!" Sabo retorted.

"Let's not dwell on formalities, let's be friends" Luffy proposed, grinning ear to ear.

"He's old man Garp's grandson. I thought I'd shaken him off."Ace intervened nonchalantly, observing Luffy.

"Who could credit such a tale?" Sabo scoffed. Given Ace's agility, it seemed implausible that this little kid could keep up. Clearly, Ace had other intentions. 

"Ace, what should we do? This guy saw our treasure," Sabo said, looking worried.

Ace shrugged. "He saw our treasure. We have no choice,"he said darkly

"Then he must be silenced."Sabo's face clouded over. His words were grave, but the hesitation in his voice betrayed his inner conflict.

"Why?!" Luffy's voice was laden with terror at Sabo's ominous demeanor.

"No, don't kill me! Wouldn't it be better for us to be friends? Don't throw me into the sea and drown me!" Luffy pleaded, collapsing on the ground in exhaustion and bursting into tears.

"Really? Drowning is a good idea, but why would this guy suggest it himself?" Sabo was at a loss for words. 

"Go ahead, Sabo, and do it nicely," Ace encouraged.

"I, I've never killed anyone, so you should do it," Sabo said, his hands shaking.

"You initiated this proposal; you must see it through," Ace insisted.

With trepidation, Sabo advanced towards Luffy.

"No, don't kill me! I don't want to die yet!" Luffy screamed in fear, finally closing his eyes. After a long wait, feeling no pain, Luffy slowly opened one eye.

"I, I can't do it!" Sabo admitted, sitting on the ground, panting heavily, sweat beading on his forehead. His admission was filled with relief, as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

"If execution is beyond us, then inclusion is the alternative," Ace concluded, clapping Sabo on the back, his expression unfazed.

"What?! Ace, Sabo, does this mean we'll be friends?" Luffy asked, surprise coloring his tone. His question was hopeful, and it reflected the simple desire for companionship that defined Luffy. 

"One final trial precedes your initiation," Ace said, a wicked smile on his lips. His statement was ominous, but there was a playful challenge in his eyes. Sabo trembled at the implication, a sense of dread washing over him.

"Anything is fine, as long as we can be friends," Luffy said loudly. His declaration was bold, and it showcased his unwavering commitment to friendship.

"Then don't move," Ace said, a flash of red in his eyes. Then, his fist came crashing down. "Boom!" "It hurts!!!" Luffy's screams echoed through the forest.

"Your understanding is incredible, and you have gained some understanding through the counter-shock force generated by hitting the target. Your Haki has been improved!"